Title: The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society
Author: Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Publisher: The Dial Press
Publication Date: July 2008 (Hardcover) | Pages: 288
Genre: Historical Fiction | Age Level: 13+
Tags: WWII, Bookclub, letters, Channel Islands, Guernsey, occupation
Summary: “ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
Review: This book was a light breezy,heartwarming read I flew through. I often forgot I was reading a book; instead I felt like I was reading treasured letters from friends.
It transported me to a fascinating period of history (just after WWII) and through these letters from the Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society we are transported to the hardships, hope and heart of a small island occupied by the Germans during WWII. We are shown how a shared love of reading can make a horrific situation more bearable and it may even save your life!
After reading this novel, I want to visit Guernsey (which hopefully I'll be able to do one day) and read more about the Channel Islands during the war.
Rating: 5/5
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